Upholstered chair



Feb- 23, i965 R. BECKMAN mm.

UPHOLSTERED CHAIR 2 Sheets-Shea?l l Filed Nov. 13, 1962 Fe. 23. i965 R. BECKMAN :TAE

UPHOLSTEIRED CHAIR 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 15, 1962 naa,

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UnitedStates Patent O.

3,170,730 v UPHOLSTERED CHAIR Ronald Beckman, New York, N.Y., and William J. Caiman, Rutherford, NJ., assignors to Herman Miller, Inc., Zeeland, Mich., a corporation of Michigan VFiled Nov. 13, 1962, Ser. No. 237,155 13 Claims. (Cl. 2974-445) one against another and are shaped such that the positioning defines the contour of the unit of furniture. The logs are then secured in'such a position and the plurality of logs are then positioned and secured to lie Vabove a base. In the embodiment shown, each of the logs'include means for receiving cables, these cables securing the logs in the position defining theV contour of the unit of furniture and :also mountingthe structure to the base. Further, the logs are all of identical construction, thus making it possible |to completely assemble units of furniture of different contour utilizing a minimum of varying structural components.`

It is an object of thisv invention to provide such a unit of furniture which utilizes unique logs, the inherent structure of which provides the contour thereof.

Another object of this invention is the provision of such a unit of furniture which utilizes a unique means for securing such logs `in vpositi'onand to and above a base.

A further object of this invention isthe provision of such a unit of furniture which utilizes logs or segments of identical construction, thereby enabling a minimum number of components -to 4be fabricated for the assembly of a unit of furniture, or the assembly of different types of` furniture.

Yet another object of this invention Vis the provision of a concept of fabricating and assembling units of furniture providing structures unique in appearance and` functioning, exhibiting strength and durability. p

These andother objects of this invention will be obvious to those skilled in the furniture art upon reading the following specification, in conjunction with theV accompanying drawings, wherein: FIG. 1 is a front perspective viewv of 'a'chair embodying the principles of this invention;

FIG, 2 is a front perspective view ofthe basejutilzed` with the chair shown in FIG. l;

FIG. 3 is a perspective viewrof theframe of one of the segments or logsrutilizedinsaid chair;

F1o. 4 is a from view of thermale shownn FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a side View of the chair shown in FIG. 1, only the frames of the logs shown mounted in position, certain parts thereof being broken away to better show the structure of this invention; 1

FIG. 6 is an enlargedview of the portion broken away at the front of the chair asvshowninFIG, 5, showing the means for connecting the logs together;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged view of the portion broken away at the back of the chair as shown in FIG'.` 5; and

at the middle-of the chair as showninFIG. 5.` a i In its broadest aspect, this invention relates tota unit of furniture comprising a base and a plurality of logs forming support for a person.v Thelogs are positioned adjacent one another :and shaped such that this positioning defines the contour of the unit of furniture. Means FIG. 8 isvan enlarged View of the portion brokenaway engagement and means Vare further provided for posi-v tioning and securing these logs above the base.

j Referring more specifically to the drawings, the reference numeral l designates a unit of furniture, a chair being shown, embodying the principles of this invention (FIG. 1). It will be understood that other units of furniture, or chairs having different configurations could utilize these principles. The chair 1 includes a base 2 and a plurality of segments or logs, in the embodiment shown being of identical construction `and each designated by the reference numeral 20.

vThe base 2. (FIG. 2) includes a standard 3 to which is mounted a` torsion mechanism 4 of standard construction. Welded to the plate 5 of the torsion mechanism 4 is a yoke 6 (FIGS.` Zand 5,). It will be seenand understood that adjustment of the torsion mechanism 4 determines the amount of movement or spring which can be exhibited by the yoke 6 through theplate 5,. .Rigid tubelike members' 7 are secured through fthev ends of the legs of the yoke 6, tubelike members 8 also being secured through the bight portion thereof. The tubelike elements the front edges of the legs 22 of the frame21 are desig-Y nated by the reference numerals 24, the back edges thereof being designated Yby the reference numerals 25. The front and back edges 24 and V25 of the legs 22 of each frame 21 are formed atan angle one with respect to the other.m The back edges 25 are formed at generally right angles to the tops and bottomsof the legs; TheY front edges 24 are sloped with respect to fthe back edges 25.

This structure'is important'and willjbe'more'fully described hereinafter.

Brackets 218 are secured at the top of each leg 22, the brackets including' a pair of Vtn belike members 29 and 30 formedV therein. Additional tubelike members 31 are secured to the bighrt portion 23 ofthe fra1ne21. A'plu# rality of liexible cablesv 10 (FIGS. 5-8) are adapted tof extend through these tubelikemembers, as Willbe described hereinafter.

Each frame 21 is suitably covered with la padding and covering as shown in FIG. 1 to complete the structure of are provided foi` securing the logs in this position of earch log 2t). In thefemlbodiment shown, it will be noted that eachof the logs 20 are vof lidentical construction, the forward edges thereof lbeing sloped and therearwar'd edges thereof being generally vertical.

The positioning of these logs 20A-to form the chair 1 is shown in FIGS. 1 and 5. As willbe seen from FIG. 5, positioning of the vertical edges of Vadjacent logs against eachother forms a straight `segment of the chair. Positioning of sloped edges ofrespectivenlogsQadjacent'one another provides a curved segment of theichai-r, thevv degree of the angle of the slope determining the amount of the` curve.A Positioning of the vertical edge of Yone'logadja- .centthe sloped edge of another log'also provides a curved` segment ofthe chair, the degree of this curve being midway between .the curved segment produced when two Isloped-edges V'are straight segment. of the chair is lachieved ythrough the particular sequence of log positions.

Cables 1li are respectively passed through the tubelike members 31 in the ibigh-t portions of the fra-mes 21 of the 'logs 2t), the cables also passing through the tubelike members 8 inthe bight portion of the yoke 6 of the base anat/'ss i positioned adjacentone another and a v Thus, the configuration of the profile" 3 2. The cables include ythreaded lbolts 11 at their ends, the threaded bolts extending into threaded sockets 12 at the ends of cables (FIG. 6). Thus, rotation of the bolt -11 draws the cables tight, forcing the logs 20 one against the other, securing/them in the contoured position shown and to the yoke 6 of the Ibase 2. Similar cables 1t) normally pass through the tubes 29 of the ibrackets 28 on the frames of all logs positioned with vertical edges adjacent one another or Isloped edges positioned adjacent one another. As shown in FIG. 5, when a sloped edge of one log is positioned adjacent the vertical edge of another log, the cables necessarily pass through the tubelike members 30 in the brackets 28 because of the Variation in height. Upon so passing cables 10 through tubelike members 29 and 30 of the brackets 28 and through the tubelike members 7 in the legs of the yoke 6 of the base 2, the securement of the logs to each other and to the yoke 6 is completed.

It should be noted that tubelike elements 35 having spacers 36 at their middles are inserted between the frames 21 of the logs 20 having a straight connection (FIG. 7). Tubelike elements 35a having spacers 36a at their middles are inserted between frames 21 of logs 20 forming a curved connection (FIG. 8). These tubelike elements 35 and 35a, inserted into and cooperating with the tubelike members 29, 30 and 31 of the frames of the logs 20 act as rigidifying spacers, aiding in retaining the logs in the proper contoured configuration.

It will now be seen that a unique unit of furniture has been disclosed. The configuration of the logs providing support for a person actually determines the contour of the unit of furniture when positioned adjacent one another. Further, an extremely simplified means has also been provided for securing the logs in the proper position to provide the contour of the unit of furniture, as well as securing the logs to and above a base for the unit. In addition, the logs may be of identical construction, thereby greatly simplifying assembly of the unit of furniture and further minimizing the numer of parts required, thereby simplifying fabrication of the unit. Further, this enables furniture of different configurations to ybe fabricated from essentially identical parts. The chair provided by the teachings of this invention is exceptionally unique in appearance, functioning and comfort for the user.

While only one embodiment of this invention has been shown and described, it may be possible to practice the invention through the utilization of certain other embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope thereof. Such embodiments are to be included as part r of this invention unless the following claims specifically state otherwise.

We claim:

1. A unit of furniture, comprising: `a base; a plurality of logs forming support for a person; each of said logs having a pair of surfaces adapted for lying in proximity to said surfaces of adjacent of said logs; said surfaces of at least certain of said logs being formed to lie in a nonparallel relationship, whereby positioning of said logs adjacent one another I'provides the contour of the unit of furniture; means for securing said logs in said position; and means for securing said logs to and above said base.

2. A unit of furniture as defined in claim 1, said means for securing said logs in position comprising cables passing therethrough.

3. A unit of furniture as defined in claim 1, wherein one s of said surfaces of each of said logs lies at generally right angles to the top and bottom thereof.

4. A unit of furniture, comprising: a base; a plurality of logs forming support for a person; each of said logs'including a generally U-shaped frame; each leg of the leg of said frame having front and back edges formed at an angle to one another, rwhereby positioning of said logs adjacent one another provides the contour of the unit of furniture; means for securing said logs in position; and means for securing said logs to and above said base.

5. A unit of furniture as defined in claim 4, one of said front and back of each of said legs of said frames formed to extend at a generally right angle to the top and bottom thereof.

6. A unit of furniture as defined in claim 4, said means for `securing said legs in position comprising tubelike elements secured to said frames and cables extending through respective elements of said frames. Y

7. A unit of furniture as defined in claim 4, Isaid means for securing said legs in position comprising tubelike elements secured to said frames and cables extending through respective elements of said frames; said base comprising a yoke'like member and said means .for securing said logs to and above said base comprising openings formed in said member receiving said cables passing through said frames.

8. A unit of furniture, comprising: a base; a plurality of logs forming support for a person; each of said logs including a generally U-shaped frame; each leg of the legs of said frames having front and back edges formed at an angle to one another, one of said front and back edges lying at generally a right angle to the top and bottom thereof, whereby positioning of said logs adjacent one another provides the contour of the unit of furniture; tubelike elements secured on each of said frames; cables passing through respective of said elements securing said logs in position; and means for securing said logs to and above said base.

9. A unit of furniture as defined in claim 8, said base comprising a yokelike member and said means for securing said logs to and-above said base including openings in said member receiving said cables therethrough.

10. A unit of furniture as defined in claim 8, said logs being of identical construction and each of said frames including a pair of tubelike elements on each of said legs for reception of one of said cables for proper alignment of said frames when a right angled edge of one of said logs is positioned adjacent a non-right angled edge of another log.

11. A unit of furniture asdefned in claim 9, said logs being of identical construction and each of said frames including a pair of tubelike elements on each of said legs for reception of one of said cables for proper alignment of said frames when a right angled edge of one of said logs is positioned adjacent a non-right angled edge of another log.

12. A unit of furniture as defined in claim 11, including tubelike spacers positioned between said logs.

13. A unit of furniture as definedin claim 1l, each of said frames having padding and a covering to form said logs.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,558,722 Almoslino July 3, 1951 2,651,058 Almoslino Sept. 8, 1953 2,874,812 Clevett Feb. 24, 1959 2,994,558 Draxler Aug. l, 1961 n 3,041,109 Eameset al. June 26, 1962 FOREIGN PATENTS 228,386 Australia May 15, 1960' 615,947 Germany July 16, 1935 1,136,531. France May 15, 1957 

1. A UNIT OF FURNITURE, COMPRISING: A BASE; A PLURALITY OF LOGS FORMING SUPPORT FOR A PERSON; EACH OF SAID LOGS HAVING A PAIR OF SURFACES ADAPTED FOR LYING IN PROXIMITY TO SAID SURFACES OF ADJACENT OF SAID LOGS; SAID SURFACES OF AT LEAST CERTAIN OF SAID LOGS BEING FORMED TO LIE IN A NONPARALLEL RELATIONSHIP, WHEREBY POSITIONING OF SAID LOGS ADJACENT ONE ANOTHER PROVIDES THE CONTOUR OF THE UNIT OF FURNITURE; MEANS FOR SECURING SAID LOGS IN SAID POSITION; AND MEANS FOR SECURING SAID LOGS TO AND ABOVE SAID BASE. 